"No, sister, didn't we already agree that our two families would live together? Why are you taking the kids back now? Is something wrong?"
"What are you talking about? I didn't agree to that back then. We've already said that even brothers should keep clear accounts."
"Big sister, this..." Liu Linjuan asked, feeling uneasy.
“Little sister, listen to me. This is what I’m thinking. After the Lantern Festival, I plan to send Shen Dong to school so he can study. He’ll be nine years old by the Chinese age reckoning after the New Year, and he can go to school by himself. I’ll feel at ease knowing he can go to and from school by himself.”
"When I'm at work, I leave Shen Nan and his two siblings with you early in the morning, asking Sister Wu to look after them. I give her 20,000 yuan a month, but you have to reserve a room for me and bring my food rations. As for the money? I won't give it to you. When I'm not at work, I'll take care of them myself. What do you think?" Zhou Tao asked cautiously.
"Okay! But let's skip the food rations!" Liu Linjuan thought that the child wouldn't eat much anyway.
"That won't do! I'm already occupying a room! Fine, I won't pay you rent, but you have to at least prepare enough food for the baby. Otherwise, if others find out, how can I save face?" Zhou Tao said hurriedly.
"Since you put it that way, Sister Zhou, then I'll listen to you!"
"That's right! I'll go and pack all the clothes and stuff in one room first."
"No need, eldest sister. Just put them in those two rooms. Xiao Nan is getting older and older, it's not good for her to share a room with Xiao Dong and the others!"
"What will happen after Sister Wu arrives with her children?"
"Let them stay in the room that Xiao Fang used to live in. Besides, the kang (heated brick bed) in that room is not small. It can sleep four people. They can fit comfortably."
"That room is indeed not small. Okay, in that case, I'll go and clean that room first!"
"good"
Unexpectedly, when I woke up again to drink milk, there were two more people in the house. After listening for a while, I realized that the nanny we had found had come to our house.
Liu Linjuan still really likes Shen Dong and his three siblings. How should I put it!
All four of them grew up around her, especially Shen Dong, Shen Nan, and Shen Xi. Back when they were in the rear, she would carry them on her back during every move to make rapid marches. Otherwise, the three of them would have been left with villagers, and it would have been hard to say whether they could have been found.
Many families still haven't found their children. It makes me think back to that time when war was raging everywhere, when I had just joined the revolution.
The first person I met was Sister Zhou. At that time, I was just a little girl of 13 or 14 years old. I was full of enthusiasm but didn't know anything. Sister Zhou taught me everything step by step.
Moreover, Sister Zhou treated me like her own sister. I remember when the main force was moving, Sister Zhou planned to leave the child with a fellow villager, because she was afraid that it would be inconvenient to take the child with her on the road.
She said it herself: "Sister Zhou, when that time comes, I'll help you carry the baby."
"Xiao Liu, how can this be? No, absolutely not! Putting aside everything else, even though we have other people protecting us during the evacuation, it's still extremely dangerous. Leaving the child with you would only increase your danger, wouldn't it? No way, I don't agree to this!"
"Sister, why can't this be done? Can you really bear to hand the child over to someone from your hometown?"
Can you guarantee that the villagers will treat the children of our revolutionary soldiers well?
"That won't work either. You'll have to carry a first-aid kit around then. How will you take care of the child? No matter what you say, it won't work."
"Sister Zhou, I know you're worried about me. You're worried that if I have to take care of another child, I won't have time to dodge if we encounter danger again."
But have you forgotten that I know kung fu? Carrying Shen Dong on my back is nothing. He doesn't even weigh 20 pounds. We can just find a basket and have him stand in it.
Besides, we're moving with the main force this time, so there shouldn't be any problems!
"Okay then!"
"Sister Zhou, just listen to your sister! Tell the truth, do you really want to leave the child with the villagers?"
"I"
"Sister Zhou, to be honest, if we stay here, and you leave your child here, and ask the villagers to help out, they certainly won't mistreat the child. But after we leave, can you be sure the villagers won't mistreat our child?"
"this"
"Besides, Japan has already surrendered, and there won't be any more fighting for a while. Our troops don't need to make a forced march when we move, so it's fine to bring the children with us."
Besides, even if we fight against Chiang Kai-shek one day, if you need to go to the front lines, then leave the children with me!
As you know, the girl is now a military doctor, and even if she goes with the army, she will stay behind.
"We can't both go on a mission at the same time!"
"Alright then! I'll do as you say. From now on, you're my little sister. If you ever need anything from me, don't hesitate to ask!"
"Look at what Sister Zhou is saying. From the moment I joined the army until now, haven't you been the one guiding me?"
Besides, I'm the child's aunt!
"Yes, you are the child's aunt, her own aunt!"
Looking back on that time, Liu Linjuan realized that the hardest part of each relocation wasn't for the adults, but for the children.
Many comrades were afraid that their children wouldn't be able to endure the hardship, so most of them left their children with the villagers.
But who would have thought that now that the country is finally unified, many people would be unable to find their children when they go back to look for them?
Looking back now, I'm glad that my senior and I didn't rush into marriage, but waited until after Liberation. Otherwise, given the circumstances at the time, our child might have had to stay with the villagers.
There aren't many like Shen Dong who can stay with their parents.
I never imagined that my child would grow up so fast. I just wonder how my senior brother is doing now.
In Zhou Tao's heart, Liu Linjuan was like her own sister, and she knew some things that others didn't.
Not to mention the many children who were left with villagers and never found, even those children who were found weren't very close to their parents.
Even if parents want to love their children more, there are other children in the family, and these children spend more time with their parents. So some parents naturally tend to favor the children who stay with them.
Even though few people talk about this, it doesn't really need to be said. Everyone has eyes and can see it.
Moreover, this is not something outsiders can talk about, because many people who participated in the revolution in their early years basically had children left in the homes of their fellow villagers.
If they can be found, that's a stroke of luck; if they can't be found, aren't we all still searching? Ultimately, no one can guarantee whether they can be found!
Around 2 PM, Sister Fang brought Sister Wu over.
"Xiao Liu, Xiao Zhou, this is Sister Wu, whom I told you about this morning!" Sister Fang said.
Hello, Sister Wu!
"Hello, Comrade Liu!"
"Hello, Comrade Zhou!"
"I heard some things about you from Aunt Fang. I wanted to ask when you'd be free to move in!"
"Anytime is fine!"
"It just so happens that Aunt Fang is here today, so it's a good opportunity for her to be a witness."
There's something I need to tell you in advance. Is it okay if you and the child move in today?
Comrade Liu, you said
Hearing Liu Linjuan's words, Wu Hui wondered if 50,000 yuan a month was too much. If not, 30,000 yuan would be fine too!
"As you can see, Aunt Fang just introduced you. This is Sister Zhou. They have four children. The youngest, Shen Bei, is only a little over a year old and needs your help looking after. You don't need to take care of the other three children. Just cook more when you're cooking. We'll give you 20,000 yuan a month. What do you think?"
After listening to Liu Linjuan's words, Sister Wu thought, "Isn't it just taking care of one more child?"
What's wrong with that? Besides, he's over a year old now, he can talk and walk, and he can communicate about any problems, unlike other younger children who need to be observed slowly.
Also, he'll let me know if he needs to poop or pee. Otherwise, he can play nearby, and as long as he doesn't bump into anything, he's fine.
Besides, I don't have to take care of the other three children. It's just a matter of cooking a little more, which isn't difficult.
Moreover, the three older children can also look after the younger ones, so I don't really have to worry about them.
Most importantly, I can earn an extra two yuan every month, so I said, "No problem!"
Liu Linjuan and Zhou Tao exchanged a glance, then said...
"Then it's settled."
Sister Fang never expected that this could be done.
Come to think of it, it makes sense. Now, Xiao Zhou is raising her child alone while also going to work. She wouldn't feel comfortable leaving the child at home. It would be better to let the child stay with Xiao Liu when there's nothing else to do, and have Comrade Wu help look after the child. It's much better than leaving the child at home and living in fear.
I never expected that I would be able to have a nanny to take care of me in this special era. It must take a lot of ability and talent to afford a nanny!
Don't be fooled by the fact that it's only 50,000 yuan a month. You have to consider what era we're living in. Back in 1951, the currency was the first set of Renminbi. Money wasn't really money back then. But the most important thing was that food and lodging were provided, plus the food and lodging for two people.
So, Mom and Aunt Zhou really had no other choice? Even if there's one person at home helping with the DSLR camera, they definitely wouldn't hire a nanny!
Also, Mom and Aunt Zhou would never skimp on their child. Even if they didn't eat meat dishes every few days, they would at least have them three to five times a month.
Moreover, they were all revolutionaries and knew what it was like for poor families. They certainly wouldn't skimp on food, so the nanny's salary must have been quite high!
I remember in 1956, when the comprehensive public-private partnership was implemented, the servants in the homes of those big landowners were dismissed and sent home.
Moreover, at that time, anyone who had even the slightest connection to capitalism was either suppressed or criticized by those below them.
However, my family has been fine for the past two or three years. The only problem is that I don't know our family's political affiliation. I remember reading in a book that family political affiliation is classified as follows:
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